Engine starter



July 19, 1932. E. A. FRIDLEY 1,867,662

' ENGINE STARTER Filed April 1, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 will" N\ M R R v IJWWM ell/town 041 a.

July 19, 1932.

E. A. FRIDLEY ENGIN'E STARTER Filed April 1?" 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwuc/yvbo'b lirmzzzg E. A. FRDLEY ENGINE STARTER July 19, 1932.

Filed April 1. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snow" M4 0.

Patented July 19, 1932 rarer sic nLMnR ALonzo rnrnLnY, or SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA ENGINE Application filed I April 1,

This invention aims to provide novel means for moving a starting motor into and out of engagement with a gear wheel on an engine, and to provide novel means for driving the engine shaft to start the-engine, at the'Wlll of an operator, the device being of particular utility in connection with internal combustion engines. i

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that sort to which the present invention appertains. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, within the scope of what claimed, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation, showing a modification.

Figures a and 5 show two circuit arrangements which may be used.

In Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 indicates the driving gear, on the fly wheel of the shaft of an internalcombustion engine, although the gear which operates the engine, to start the engine, may be variously mounted. The numeral 2 designates an electric motor which is mounted at 38 on any accessible parts 19 of the framework of the engine, for swinging movement. A pawl and ratchet mechanism 6 connects a pinion 7 with the shaft 5 of the motor 2.

A combined switch member and stop 11 is threaded at 10 into the framework of the motor and cooperates with a. combined switch member and stop 12, which is threaded into any part 15 of the engine frame that may be convenient.

A solenoid magnet is supplied, and may be p of any form. As shown, but not of necessity,

the solenoid magnet comprises a coil 16 car- STARTER 1930. seriai'n'o. 440,799.

ried by the motor 2, and a core 17 which is fixed on the engine frame, or elsewhere.

1 One of the binding posts of the motor is shown at 18. The numeral 19 marks a source of electrical energy, the same being, generally, a storage battery, which is grounded on one side, as shown at 30. A conductor 21. leads from the source battery 19 to one side of a switch 22, under the control of an operator. The opposite side of the switch 22 is connected to oneend of the coil 16 by a conductor 23. A conductor 24 extends between the opposite-end of the coil 16 and one side of the motor 2. The opposite side of the motor 2 is grounded as shown at 25. A conductor 26 connects the motor 2 with the switch member 11. The switch member 12 is joined by a conductor 27 to the switch member 11.

The threading at 10 permits an adjustment in the position of the switch member and stop 11 and the threading at it permits an adjustment in the position .of the switch member and stop 12. The partslland 12 function as stops, because they limit the amount that the pinion 7 meshes into the driving gear 1. The parts '11 and'12 operate as swi ch members, because they carry the current under some conditions, aswill be described hereinafter.

In practical operation, when the operator closes the switch 22, there is established a circuit comprising the ground 30, the conductor 21, the switch 22, the conductor-'23, the coil 16, the conductor 24, the motor 2, and the ground 25, the motor 2- being swung on its hinged mounting 34-8-9 to bring the pinion 7 into mesh with the gear wheel 1.

When the motor 2is swung, as aforesaid, the switch members ll'and 12 are brought into cooperation, the coil 16 is short-circuited and 'derenergized, and ti e motor 2 is fully energized. The term fully energized requires explanation. After the manual closing oft-he switch 22, and before theautomatin closing of the switch 12 11, there is an interval during. which the motor 2 derives current through the'conductors 23 and 2a, and during this interval, the magnet coil 16 acts as aresistance, and slows down the motor, whilst the teeth 01" the pinion 7 are being enmeshed with the teeth of the gear wheel 1.: but by the time that the pinion 7 has meshed with the gear wheel 1, the switch 11-12 has closed, thereby short-circuiting the magnet coil 16 and removing the corresponding resistance, full current being delivered to the motor 2, through the conductor 26, and the motor being speeded up accordingly.

Although the magnet 16 is de-energized, the pinion 7, turning in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2, remains in mesh with the gear wheel 1, at the start, because the gear wheel 1, although turning in the-direction of the arrow B, has a backward drag onthe pinion 7, in the direction of the arrow C. When the engine starts to operate, the peripheral speed of the gear wheel 1 is greaterthan the peripheral speed of the gear wheel 7, and the drag on the gear wheel 7, in the direction of the arrow C ceases. Then the motor 2 no longer is prevented from swingingto the right in Figure 2,'the action of the gear wheel 1 on the pinion 7 is in the direction of the arrow B, the motor 2 is swung to the right in Figure 2, andthe pinion 7 is moved out of mesh with the gear wheel 1. The present invention relates to putting the pinion 7 into mesh with the gear wheel 1, and getting the pinion out of mesh with the gear wheel In Figure 3 of the drawings, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals previously used, with the sufiix b. In this figure, the motor 2?) has an additional binding post 38. The source is indicated at 31 and is grounded at 32. A conductor 33 leads toone side of the switch 37. From the opposite side of the switch 37, a conductor 34: leads-to one side of the motor 26, a conductor 35 joining the motor 2?) with a conductor 36 whichleads from one end of the coil 16?) to the ground 40, the switch 37 being interposed in the conductor 36. The coil 16?) is grounded at 38.

The structure shown in Flgure 3 provides .fora motor having two binding posts, but

the general operation isthe same as that described in connection with Figure 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

' 1. The combination with a starting gear of a motor, a pinion carried by the motor, means for mounting the motor for radial swinging movement to bring the pinion into and out of mesh with. the starting gear, and solenoid means for imparting swinging movement to the motor, said solenoid means embodying a fixed core, and a coil carried by the motor and cooperating with the core.

2. The combination with a starting gear, of a motor, a pinion carried by the motor,

solenoid means for imparting swinging movement to the motor, said solenoid means embodying, as cooperating elements, a core and a coil, one of said cooperating elements being fixed, and the other of said cooperating elements being carried by the motor.

3. Ina device of the class described, a starting gear, a motor, a pinion carried by the motor, means for mounting the motor movably, to bring the pinion into and out of mesh with the starting gear, means for imparting movement to the motor, to bring the pinion into mesh with the starting gear, the starting gear reacting on the pinion, as the peripheral speed of the starting gear increases above the peripheral speed of the pinion, thereby to movethe motor anddisengage the opinion from the starting gear, means. under thecontrol of an operator for start ing the motor, the means for imparting move ment to the motor embodying'mechanism for cutting down the speed otthe motor at starting, and means for renderingsaid mechanism inactive, the last-specified means embodying relatively movable parts which coact when the motor moves to bring the pinion into mesh with the starting, gear, one of said -rela tively movable parts being fixed, and .the other of said relatively movable parts being carried with the motor. In testimony that I claim theforegoinga my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

7 ELMER ALONZO FRIDLEY.

means for mounting the motor for radial swinging movement to bring the opinion into and out of mesh with the starting gear, and 

